Constructional element



P 1959 w. G. SANDERS 0 CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENT Filed April 50, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet i FIGJ: E FIG-L2.-

Sept. 29, 1959 w. G. SANDERS CON STRUCTIONAL ELEMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 30, 1956 Sept. 29, 1959 w. G. SANDERS CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENT Filed April 50. 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 29, 1959 w, SANDERS 7 2,906,380

' CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENT Filed April 30, 1956 4 Sheets -Sheet 4 United States Patent ()flfice 2,906,380 Patented Sept. 29, 1959 CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENT William Gerald Sanders, Lichfield, England, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Supaslot Angle Company (G.B.) Limited, Cowley, Oxford, England, a company of Great Britain Application April 30, 1956, Serial No. 581,788 Claims priority, application Great Britain May 5, 1955 1 Claim. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates to constructional elements of the kind adapted to be cut into suitable lengths and connected together, for example by bolting, to form frameworks, racks, stands and other like structures.

An object of the present invention is a constructional element comprising a bar having two flanges disposed at an angle with respect to each other, one flange having two parallel longitudinal rows of spaced longitudinally elongated slots, round holes spaced between the slots of one longitudinal row, and a series of spaced parallel slots inclined to the longitudinally elongated slots at an angle of approximately 45 degrees disposed with their ends in the intervals between the slots of the respective longitudinal rows, the other flange having a single longitudinal row of slots and holes in a repeated series of longitudinally arranged elongated slots, round holes, and elongated slots inclined to the longitudinally arranged slots at an angle of approximately 45 degrees.

The width of the slots is preferably equal'to the diameter of the round holes, and the ends of the slots are preferably radiussed off with a radius equal to that of the round holes.

Further, the holes and slots of the first flange are preferably arranged so that the longitudinal and lateral spacing between their centres, centre lines, and centres of the radii at their ends respectively are substantially equal and also substantially equal to the like longitudinal spacing of the slots and holes in the other flange.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent from the description herein and from the statement of claim hereinafter appearing.

An example of a constructional element in accordance with the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan, and

Figure 2 is an elevation of a short length of the constructional element.

Figure 3 is a perspective view.

A further example of a constructional element is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which Figures 4 to 6 are respectively views similar to Figures 1 to 3, but showing a modified element.

Figure 7 shows a typical right angle joint between two of the elements according to the invention. Figures 8 and 9 are two views of a pair of the elements in nesting relationship.

Referring first to the element illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, this comprises a metal bar of right angle section having one flange 1 substantially 1 /2 times the width of the other flange 2. The first flange 1 is formed with two longitudinal parallel rows of longitudinally elongated slots 3 and 4 defined respectively between inner, median and outer Zones A, B, and C and bridge parts D. Spaced parallel inclined slots 5, with their axes inclined at 45 degrees to the longitudinal rows are defined between sections E of the median zone and extend between the rows of longitudinally elongated-slots 3 and 4 with their ends 6 arranged in the intervals between the slots 3 and 4 of the respective rows. Round holes 7 complete the longitudinal row containing the slots 4.

The other flange 2 is provided with a single longitudinal row of slots and holes defined between inner and outer zones F, G and bridge parts H, and arranged in a repeated series of longitudinally elongated slots 8, round holes 9 and elongated slots 10 with their axes inclined at 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis.

The width of all the slots is equal to the diameter of the round holes, and the ends of the slots are radiussed OE With a radius equal to that of the round holes. A single size of bolt or other fastening member can thus be used for connecting element together in any desired relation. Moreover, the longitudinal and lateral spacing between the centres, centre lines, and centres of the radii at the ends of the holes and slots respectively in the flange 1 is equal and equal also to the like respective longitudinal spacing of the slots 8, 10 and holes 9 of the other flange 2.

The slots 3 are of a length, between the centres of the radii at their ends, equal to twice that of the slots 4 and 8. The longitudinal spacing of the slots 3 between adjacent end radii centres is equal to their length between end radii centres, whilst the longitudinal spacing of the slots 4 and 8 is equal to three times their length and the slots 4 and 8 are staggered with respect to each other.

The ends of the slots 3, 4, 5 of the flange 1 overlap each other in a longitudinal direction by a distance equal to the diameter of the holes 7 and to twice the end radii of the slots. The two end radii centres of each inclined slot 5 are located respectively upon the axes of the two rows of slots 3 and 4. The inclined slots 10 are of a length such that the lateral and longitudinal distances between the centres of their end radii are equal to the diameter of the holes 7 and 9 and to the width of the slots.

It will be seen from Figures 1 to 3 that in the element there illustrated the axes of the inclined slots 5 and 10 are directed towards the angle 11 of the element in opposite directions and are thus similarly inclined to the longitudinal axis of the element.

In the modified example, shown in Figures 4 to- 6 the element is similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, and has similar slots and holes which are similarly referenced. In this embodiment, however, the axes of the'inclined slots 5 and 10 are directed towards the angle 11 of the element in the same longitudinal direction and are thus oppositely inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the element.

The arrangement of the slots and holes in constructional elements proposed by the present invention enables elements to be connected or nested together to form structures in a wide variety of shapes and configurations, for example T, H channel or box sections can be formed. The constructional elements also may be easily connected togetherat right angles or at 45 degrees, due to the disposition of the slots 3, 4 and 5, and due to the lateral disposition of the slots 10 and 5, two or more angles may be nested together and bolts passed through both flanges of all the elements.

It will be evident from a study of Figure 8 that where two elements are joined at right angles, four bolts can be passed through the two elements and the disposition of these is at the corner square which gives the optimum stress distribution as well as giving the joint a neat workman-like appearance. Figure 9 shows how where additional strength is required and two elements are nested together, the provision of the inclined slots in both flanges enables bolts to be passed through the two elements to secure them together at regular intervals.

The dimensions of the constructional elements will Flange 1: 2 width. Flange 2: 1% width.

Width and diameter of slots and holes: 7

The lateral and longitudinal spacing between the centres, centre lines, and centres of the end radiiof the holes and slots The metal used may convenientlybe rolled steel of 14 S.W.G.

;I claim:

Improved constructional element comprising a bar of angle sectionhaving two flanges substantially perpendicular to each other, one flange having two parallel longitudinal rows of spaced longitudinally elongated slots, the slots in each row having their longitudinal axes aligned on a common axis, round holes-spaced between the slots of one longitudinal row, and having their centres locatedon the axis of said one row of slots and a-seriesof spaced parallel slots inclined to the longitudinally elongated slots at an angle of approximately 45 degrees disposed with their ends in the intervals between .the slots of the respective longitudinal rows, the end radii centres of said inclined slots being located on the respective common axes of-"said two rows of longitudinal slots, the other flange having a single longitudinal row of slots and holes in a repeatedaseries of longitudinally arranged elongated slots, round holes, and elongated slots inclined to the-longitudinally arranged slots at an angle of approximately degrees.

ReferencesiCited' inthe'file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,733,786 Drake Feb. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 256,422 Switzerland Feb. 16, 1949 620,696 Great Britain Mar. 29, 1949 519,817 Belgium May 30, 1953 520,977 Belgium July 15, 1953 707,869 Great Britain Apr. 21, 1954 

